Diaphragm valve



Sept, 29, v1936. P. K. SAUNDERS DIAPHRAGM VALVE Filed March 27, 1.956

Patented Sept. 29, i936 DEAF f.

AGM VALVE Philip' Keith Saunders, Wolverhampton, liing-E land, assigner to Saunders inventions Limited, Wolves-hampton, England v Application March 2'?, '1936, Serial No. 71,217

iin Great Britain August 23, ll934i 3 Claims.

My prior U. S. Patent No. 1,855,991 shows an actuator having a key-hole slot freely to receive a T-Shaped stud, oi the diaphragm, which is reinforced by piano-wire to prevent it from collapsing.

The main object oi the present invention is to provide for the attachment of the diaphragm to the actuator in an improved manner, particularly for small diaphragm valves in which case the studs oi the prior patent have to be of very small dimensions and are thus liable to give rise to diilculties.

A further object is to provide a resilient headed projection, which is integral with the diaphragm and is held in a compressed state in an under# cut recess of the actuator.

in carrying out a further object of the invention, a resilient headed projection carried by the diaphragm is forced into an undercut recess, in the actuator, through a circular opening leading thereto. An alternative object is to provide for the headed projection to be slid laterally into said undercutrecess.

According to a still further feature of the invention, the actuator includes separate portions jointly providing an undercut recess for the -reception of a headed projection of the diaphragm, so that thehead can thus be inserted without difficulty when larger than the recess. In a preferred arrangement, where the actuator is arranged to slide in a. part lor the valve body or of the cover therefor, the dimensions are such that the headed projection of the dia.-

phragm will be held under compression when the parts are assembled. In these latter cases the separate portions ofthe actuator may be hinged together. As a matter oi convenience, thehinging means may comprise a pin by which the compressor portion of the actuator is united to an actuating spindle therefor. Additional aligning means may also be provided for the actuator portions.

For a. better understanding of the.. objects and advantages of the invention, the specific features of which are pointed out with partlcularity in the claims hereto appended, attention should be a directed to the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drgwing., In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through one form of diaphragm valve adapted according to -the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 but showing a modification;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the come presser and spindle of the actuator of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken on the line .IV-IV of Figure l, but incorpo- 'rating the modiiication of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l, but with 10 the valve cover and body omitted, of a modication;

Figure 6 is 'an underside plan view of the compressor oi Figure 5; and

Figure? is a view similar to that of Figure 6 15 of a further modification.

Like numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawing. f

ln the construction illustrated by Figures 2 to 4, the compressor il of the actuator is split in halves i2, l on a plane in which its main 20 axis lies, and parts i3, it of the peripheries of each half are shaped fairly accurately so as to co-act with a channel it formed in the cover l5 for the valve; such that ,when the actuator is `assembler therein the parts will be heid by the 25 cover substantially against one another. For ensuring movement of the parts in unison use may be made of a hinge-pin it arranged transy lversely to the split, this same pin .serving for headed projection i9 formed on the diaphragm 20. This projection may be of relatively large dimensions and may be formed integrally with the diaphragm when this is of rubber, as is preferred, or arranged in other ways. o

vWhen' a diaphragm has to be changed, the cover complete with the actuating mechanism is first removed andthe actuator is then moved in the closing direction as far as possible, allowing the. shaped peripheral portions i3 to leave the chan- 45 nels H in the cover. In these conditions the compressor portions I2 can be spread from one another sufficiently to allow of the withdrawal of the projection I9 from the undercut recess I8, andVm a new diaphragm can then be fitted. As soon as the actuator is drawn up into the bore of the cover the projection on the diaphragm is securely gripped, being then preferably held lightly 'under compression;

In the modification of this arrangement, as

shown by Figure 1, the compressor IIa is not split into halves, as is the compressor II above described; and as long as the head of the projection I9 is not too large, relatively to the opening 2| leading to the undercut recess I8,- the head can be forced through the opening 2| into the undercut recess-assuming, of course, that it is of rubber or other resilient material. As is well known, wetting the head will assist this operation.

In the modication of Figures 5 and 6 the undercut recess I8 of the compressor IIb has communicating with it a full-sized slot 22 along which the head I9 of the diaphragm 2II can be slid. In the modication of Figure 7 the equivalent lateral slot, 23;of the compressor I Ic, is not full size, the head I9 being laterally compressed to be slid therealong into the undercut recess I8.

Thus', by means of the invention a very secure attachment can be provided in asimple manner between the actuator and the diaphragm of a small valve, whereby to ensure the positive opening of the valve. Owing to the relatively large size of the projection onthe diaphragm the likelihood of it drawing away from the diaphragm or from the actuator is obviated.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isz- 1. A diaphragm valve having a valve casing, an actuator for the diaphragm formed of separate portions jointly providing an undercut re- 5 cess, a diaphragm having a headed projection which is received in said recess, said actuatorhaving sliding contact with said valve casing so that said separate portions will be held adjacent one another to grip said projectionin said recess. 10

2. In a diaphragm valve, an actuator for the diaphragm formed of separate portions jointly providing an undercut recess, a diaphragm havingra headed projection which is received in said recess, a valve casing having oppositely-disposed parallel guiding channels, and parts lon each of said separate portions adapted to slide in said channels and thus to maintain 'said separate portions' adjacent one another.

3. For use in a diaphragm valve, an actuator comprising a compressor for the diaphragm which includes separate portions jointly providing an undercut recess, an actuating spindle, and means uniting said separate portions to one another and to said spindle, said means passing through said separate portions and said spindle.

PHILIP KEITH SAUNDERS. 

